Third Day

From First to Third
Written By Patrick Burch

OPENING THOUGHT

Everyone ignored the third day.

When Jesus told the disciples about it the first time, Peter pulled him aside to rebuke him (Mark 8:31-33).

On another occasion, the disciples “understood none of these things … they did not grasp what was said” (Luke 18:31-34).

After it happened, and the women who witnessed it reported it to the other disciples, “these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them” (Luke 24:11).

On the third day, Jesus rebuked the disciples for not believing, saying, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25).

What happened on the third day? Jesus rose from the dead.

Even though Jesus repeatedly told his disciples about it, they would not believe.

We struggle to believe in the third day, too.

But hope depends on the third day. Peter said, “[God] has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet. 1:3).

Without the third day, “we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor. 15:19).

Let’s discuss the third day—the day Christ was raised from the dead—to strengthen our hope and rejoice in God’s power over death.

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD

Luke 24:36-43

  • How did Jesus appear to his disciples? What was different about him?

  • Why did they think he might be a spirit (ghost)? What did he do to demonstrate the true nature of his body?

  • Luke says that when they realized Jesus had truly risen, “they disbelieved for joy and were marveling.” What does this say about their emotional state?

John 20:11-18

  • Why was Mary weeping?

  • Why do you think she had trouble identifying Jesus?

  • What instructions did Jesus give Mary?

John 20:19-23

  • How did Jesus first appear to his disciples? What does this tell us about his body? Had it changed?

  • What day of the week was it?

  • What was the reaction of the disciples?

John 20:24-29

  • What was Thomas’s emotional state?

  • How did Thomas respond when the Lord appeared to him?

  • Do the Lord’s words have any implications toward us? What are they?

1 Corinthians 15:14-20

  • What good is our faith if Christ has not been raised?

  • What did Paul mean by “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep”?

  • What have you learned about Christ’s resurrection body? Does this tell us anything about what our bodies will be like when we are raised from the dead? (see 1 Cor. 15:49; Phil. 3:21; 1 John 3:2).

Patrick Burch
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Second Fiddle